VW Specialist London Blog

Going forward, the twocompanieswill work together onVolkswagen’sCross-Over-Platform, which isaimed at enhanced vehicle connectivity and convenience. Using the latest in cloud technology, it willoffer drivers seamless digital access to extensive featuressuch as smart home and location-based services.

Over the coming years, the two companieswill be concentrating on:

Developing technologies that bring together the connected car and the smart home so thatdrivers are able to control and monitor smart devices in theirhomes — such as lights,security systems and domestic appliances — from out on the road.
Developing a context-sensitive notification centre that can deliver messages in an intuitive and safe manner and provide optimised recommendations to the driver in real time.
Developing next-generation infotainment technology for connected cars.

Key LG Electronics executives present at the signing at VolkswagenGroup headquarters includedRichard Choi, Head of LGCloud Center, and Lee Sang-yong, Head of LG Vehicle Infotainment System ResearchLab. Representing Volkswagen were Prof. Thomas Form, Head of Electronics and VehicleResearch, and Robert Kattner, Head of Vehicle Information Systems, both of the Group Research Division.

"Volkswagen is pressing on with the digitalisation of its brands. Our focus in doing so is always on ourcustomers. For them, comfort, safety and energy efficiency play a central role. LG is a strong,reliable partner in the implementation of new features andone of the drivers of innovation in the networked household. Welook forward to working with LG and to developing in future simple, easy-to-use smarthome solutions for our customers integrated into our vehicle systems," said Form at the official signing of the agreement.

“LG Electronics andVolkswagenare teaming up to develop the next generationof connected car platform that allows wide integration with smart homeservices andadoption of open IoT connectivity technologies,” said Richard Choi. “We think LG’s expertise in smart technology together withVolkswagen’sleadership in theautomotive sectorwill revolutionise theway drivers interact with their vehicles.”

This agreement is an example of the long-standing relationship that LG and Volkswagenhave developed over the years. LG was one of the first electronics companiesto commit itself to the automotive industry. It has beensupplying audio-visual products for vehicles since 2007, establishing a reputation for reliability and technological innovation.

In March in 2015, Volkswagensubsidiary ItaldesignGuigiaro unveiled its GEA concept car at the Geneva Motor Show with seven keycomponents supplied by LGElectronics, including the holographicdisplay, connected smart watch, tail lights and rearcamera. In July, LG was selected as Volkswagen’s strategic electronics supplier and also listed as a partner company on its FAST (Future Automotive Supply Tracks)programme. At CES earlier this year, the twocompanies attracted great attention showcasing a smart home system that could be controlled remotely from the vehicle.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The new Tiguan has today been awarded the top rating offive stars by the independent European consumer protection organisation Euro NCAP. The latest generation of the popular SUV passed the demanding NCAP safety tests with top marks, making the Tiguan one of Europe’s safest new cars.

The overall safety rating of five stars is aggregated from the new Tiguan's results in four sub-sections: occupant protection for adults and children; pedestrian protection; and driver assistance systems. The new Tiguan passed the comprehensive Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme) test series with outstanding results – not least thanks to its first-class package of safety features, including optimised vehicle body structure, a highly effective safety belt, seat and airbag combination and innovative driver assistance systems.

Since 1997, Euro NCAP has been regarded as one of the most important benchmarks for vehicle safety in Europe. This year, the conditions for the test were made even tougher. In the extensive testing of occupant safety for adults the new Tiguan achieved an outstanding 96 per cent of the maximum rating. In this process it was put through the following safety tests:

Frontal crash into an aluminium barrier at 64km/h and 40 per cent overlap
Frontal crash at 50 km/h into a rigid barrier with 100% overlap
Side impact at 50 km/h into the vehicle side structure
Side pole impact at 32 km/h
Protection against whiplash in the event of arear-end collision
Automatic emergency braking to avoid collisions with vehicles or pedestrians

An excellent result – 84 per cent of the possible points total – was also achieved by the new Tiguan for child safety. This year, new child crash test dummies were being used in the assessment for the first time. Thanks to the standard ISOFIX and Top Tether child seat anchors and safety belt tensioners on the second row of seats, children are very well protected in the event of any frontal or side impact.

In the pedestrian protection category the Tiguan scored a total rating of 72 per cent. Design details on the Tiguan that reduce the risk of injury to passers-by were, in particular, positively rated. These include the 'active bonnet', which in the event of a collision is designed to help reduce dangerous head injuries. The popular SUV is also equipped with an emergency braking system and – as a first in the Tiguan – with a pedestrian detection function.

In the area of safety assistance the Tiguan was able to impress, and score 69 per cent of the possible points, with its standard ESC, seatbelt fastening reminder function in the back, Front Assist emergency braking system and the Lane Assist function that helps drivers to stay in lane.

The new Tiguan has been available to order in the UK since April and comes with an extensive range of safety features. These include airbags for the driver and front-seat passenger (including front-seat passenger airbag deactivation and a knee airbag on the driver’s side) and a head airbag system for the front and rear passengers, including side airbags. There are also safety-optimised headrests which minimise the risk of whiplash injuries in the event of a rear-end collision, and seatbelt alerts for every seat. The new Tiguan also has systems such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with countersteer assistance, including ABS with brake assistant, the Post- Collision Braking System and a tyre pressure indicator.

The Pre-Crash proactive occupant protection system, which recognises critical situations with increased potential of an accident, tightens seatbelts being worn in the front and closes any open windows and/or sliding sunroof is also fitted as standard in many countries.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

Volkswagen is joining forces with the world’s largest car-sharing network, Zipcar, to launch the ultra-low emission Golf GTE in the UK’s capital city. ‘Zipwagen’ is a clear demonstration of how Volkswagen is offering not only cutting-edge technology in its cars, but also in the ways in which those cars are used by new types of customers.

In future, increasing numbers of inner city residents will choose to use cars only when required and most suitable to their needs, making car sharing schemes attractive. And with air quality a long-standing and still growing focus, an ultra-low emission vehicle such as the Volkswagen Golf GTE plug-in hybrid is the ideal choice.

With 40 cars located in the London Borough of Westminster and a further 10 cars throughout the capital Zipwagen is a partnership which will see a total of 50 Volkswagen Golf GTE models, with dedicated charging stations, made available to Zipcar members.

The partnership allows members of the car club access to the dynamic, multi award-winning Golf GTE for as little as £7 per hour – bringing sustainable, low- and zero-emission driving within the reach of a large number of Londoners.

The innovative Golf GTE is powered by a combination of petrol engine and electric motor. Capable of returning up to 166 mpg, and with CO2 emissions measured at just 39 g/km, this desirable plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) has already scooped a series of prominent automotive industry awards including an overall win in the UK’s influential Green Apple Awards, and the Green category in the annual BusinessCar Fleet Technology Awards.

When fully charged in all-electric mode, the Golf GTE has an electric range of up to 31 miles**. When electric and petrol combine, the total range is 580 miles**. The car therefore provides the best of both worlds: the zero tailpipe emissions of a pure EV along with the reassuring extra range, low emissions and impressive economy of a latest generation Volkswagen petrol engine. This makes the Golf GTE equally suitable whether on short trips in the city or longer journeys out of town.

The car’s latest generation lithium-ion battery can be charged in two ways: either when plugged into a charging station or, if necessary, while being driven on the road. From zero to full charge takes 2 hours 20 minutes at one of the dedicated Zipcar charging points.

Welcoming the launch of the Zipwagen initiative Rod McLeod, Head of Marketing at Volkswagen UK, said: “Volkswagen is once again demonstrating its forward thinking with this exciting new Zipwagen initiative. We are already leading the way in terms of product technology and the new car buying experience – from clicks right through to collection – but this partnership with Zipcar shows that we are also providing attractive solutions to increasing numbers of inner-city residents who want to use cars on demand in preference to actually owning one.

“Engaging low- or no-emission driving in the city, allied to the well-established quality and practicality of today’s Volkswagen Golf, means I expect the Zipwagen initiative to prove extremely popular and look forward to seeing the 50 Golf GTEs involved in the scheme out and about on the streets of London in the weeks and months ahead.”

Mark Walker, Zipcar UK General Manager, said: “The Volkswagen Golf GTE is ideal for Zipcar members and ideal for London. Volkswagen’s innovative plug-in hybrid technology means the best of both worlds: zero emission driving in the city, combined with total flexibility for driving long distances.

“Thanks to our Zipwagen partnership, Zipcar members will be able to drive this leading-edge, premium car for just £7 per hour and, once they have done so, I’m confident they will become positive advocates for electric driving in the city.”

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

It is one of the most extraordinary events for classic automobiles and racing cars of every era: the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Thousands are flocking to the home of the Earl of March and Kinrara, Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox, in Westhampnett, England, for the annual automotive festival. This year at the site, two hours’ drive from London, they will witness celebrations for a Volkswagen icon: the Golf GTI, which is now 40 years young. The journey across the English Channel has been made by a Golf Mkl GTI race car and the new Golf GTI Clubsport S. Another star at the spectacle of speed is the Polo R WRC. Both the Golf Mkl GTI and Polo R WRC will be taking part in the legendary hill climb. At the wheel: racing drivers Strietzel Stuck and Jari-Matti Latvala.

It all began in 1976.Volkswagen launched the first Golf GTI. A production run of only 5,000 was planned. But the GTI democratised the outside lane of the motorway and became the icon of compact sports cars. To date more than two million motorists around the world have gone for a Golf GTI. Delivering 228 kW I 310 PS, the most powerful version is the new Clubsport S - a finely balanced cross between road and racing car with a limited production run of just 400. Volkswagen is now bringing history full circle at Goodwood. With the Golf Mkl GTI and the Golf GTI Clubsport S the company is showing the origin of the cult compact car and its new flagship at the same time.

In terms of power the Golf GTI Clubsport S is on a par with the 232 kW / 315 PS Polo R WRC, with which Volkswagen won the World Rally Championship in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and is on course for the title again in 2016. Driver Jari-Matti Latvala (31) will be powering the Polo R WRC up the famous southern English hill. Also taking part in the legendary hill climb will be Hans-Joachim Stuck (65) - the well-known former Formula 1, DTM and Le Mans star - in an historic Golf Mkl GTI racing car (222 PS).

*Golf GT/ Clubsport S fuel consumption in l/100km: 7.4 (combined).C02 emissions in glkm: 172 (combined). Efficiency class: F. All performance, fuel efficiency and emission figures given in this press release are forecasts as at June 2016.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

The Traffic Message Channel (TMC) is a digital data channel provided by the traffic news service that supplies continuously updated 'real time' traffic data. When your route has been selected, our navigation systems with dynamic route guidance make use of this data to check traffic conditions. If the TMC indicates a traffic jam or other hold-up, the system automatically calculates an alternative way to your destination. It takes into account the time required for the alternative route and if this is longer than driving through the traffic jam, your route is not changed. The Traffic Message Channel is now available in much of Europe with data transmitted digitally, decoded by your navigation system, and displayed in your own language.

Article source: www.volkswagen.co.uk

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